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NHRA: Mark Lyle named series’ chief starter

Longtime starter Mark Lyle has been named the NHRA's chief starter for the upcoming season.

NHRA announced on Wednesday that Mark Lyle, longtime starter in the series’ Division 6, has been named the official NHRA chief starter.

There have been only two chief starters in the sport’s 60-plus year history, Buster Couch (1955-96) and Rick Stewart (1996-2011).

Lyle will begin in his new post at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 9-12.

“It is simply the highest honor anyone in my position can have,” said Lyle, who resides in North Bend, Wash. “I really have to thank Kenworth Northwest for being flexible with my NHRA work schedule over the years and for allowing me to pursue my dream. To follow in the footsteps of two iconic and legendary figures in NHRA history is beyond words. I am looking forward to sending off the first pair in Pomona.”

Lyle has worked in the automotive industry his entire professional career, spending weeknights and weekends perfecting his craft on the starting line or working as a safety-team member in the sport he has loved since his youth.

He began as the official starter at Pacific Raceways in 2000 and since has been a certified team member of Division 6. He was named the division’s official starter in 2005. Lyle worked alongside Stewart, who recently retired, at many national events over the past several years.

“Throughout his time as a starting-line official, he has demonstrated the characteristics necessary to take on this very important position on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations. “He always has safety first and foremost in his mind and strives to be fair and just in his decision making.”